Question

Traditions are different from culture to culture. Something that sounds rude in one country may be the most polite thing to do in another. Here lists some of them.

Spitting

People think spitting on or at someone is one of the worst behaviors, and the police even consider it is a kind of attack. But in Africa, the members of the Maasai have a different way of seeing things. When polite children pass by, their elders usually spit at them. Of course, they do this with best wishes. They wish children to live a long life. They also spit on any gift they are about to give. When they move into a new house, they first go outside and spit in the four directions.

Flowers

Flowers are usually sent when people have parties, visit friends, thank others and so on. But sometimes it’s rude to give flowers. In Germany and France people use carnations(康乃馨)to decorate tombs(墓碑). Yellow flowers represent hate in Russian

and Iran, and purple flowers are bad luck in Italy and Brazil. Even the number of flowers can be rude. In France and America, an even(偶數(shù)) number of flowers is for happiness and odd numbers are for sadness.

Cleaning your plate

When we were young, our parents always told us to clean our plate and not to waste food. However, in some countries, a clean plate may make trouble for the host. In Philippines, North Africa, and some areas of China, the host will put more food on a plate once it is clean. Only when a guest leaves a little bit of food on his plate, the host will think he is full. Or a clean plate means the gust doesn’t get good service.

To do the right thing when we are in other places, we’d better respect and follow the traditions, even though we think they are strange.

1.Spitting in Maasai is partly the same as____ in China.

A. being given a red envelop by the elder

B. crossing the road in Chinese style

C. writing one’s own name on the Great Wall

2.Which of the following facts is TURE?

A. People in France can bring 9 carnations when they attend a funeral

B. Young people in Iran often buy their lovers yellow roses

C. Friends will send each other purple flowers before exams in Italy.

3.In North Africa, a clean plate means_______.

A. the guests really enjoy the food

B. the guests don’t want anything more

C. the guests are not full

4.What is the right attitude towards cultural differences?

A. Where there is a will, there is a way

B. Seeing is believing

C. Do as the Romans do

5.The passage mainly talks about________

A. different countries

B. different traditions

C. Foreign peoples

Answer 1